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Page No. : 59-65

ABSTRACT

Present study was undertaken to determine the genotoxic effects of pesticides residues found in the blood samples of the human populace of Punjab. Total of 200 blood samples were collected from the humans under four categories viz., cancer subjects from cotton belt, cancer subjects not from cotton belt, non-cancer subjects from cotton belt and non-cancer subjects not from cotton belt, with 50 samples from each category. The blood samples were analyzed for detection of pesticide residues by gas chromatography (GC) followed by confirmation with gas chromatography-mass spectrophotometry (GC-MS). Further, the samples were analyzed for DNA damage by single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE/comet assay). Residues of lindane, deltamethrin, permethrin, cypermethrin as well as ë-cyhalothrin were detected in the samples at mean residue levels of 0.33 ppm, 0.144ppm, 0.37 ppm, 0.193 ppm and 0.028 ppm, respectively and all these residues were associated with DNA damage thus indicating underlying genotoxicity associated with the pesticide exposure.

Keywords: Blood, genotoxicity, human, pesticide, residue.